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Osage County economic development director outlines grant wins, downtown plans and housing targets
Summary
Economic development director Colleen Mendoza told commissioners the county secured new and pending grants including a $750,000 Safe Streets planning award and a multi‑jurisdiction bridge application that could rebuild 8 county bridges; she outlined downtown revitalization, a retail strategy and housing projects that together aim to boost local taxes and visitor spending.
Colleen Mendoza, the county’s economic development director, told the Osage County Commission on Jan. 27 that her office is pursuing a mix of federal and regional grants to support downtown revitalization, infrastructure and housing across the county.
Mendoza said the county holds a $750,000 planning grant for Safe Streets and sidewalks, is a partner on a proposed $69,000,000 multi‑jurisdictional bridge project (8 bridges in Osage County and 7 in neighboring Chase County), and received $27,500 to cover the cost of preparing that federal bridge application. She said the bridge proposal includes about $9,400,000 in required local match if the application is funded.
“Most recently ... this is a grant that we received for 750,000. It’s a planning grant that’s focused on safe streets and sidewalks for each one of our communities,” Mendoza said.
Mendoza highlighted progress in downtown revitalization programs in Carbondale, Osage City, Overbrook and Burlingame, including a free reuse‑analysis from Kansas State and participation in the Kansas Main Street and Kansas State TAB programs. She described a forthcoming Retail Strategy analysis intended to identify retail gaps countywide and help recruit appropriate businesses.
On housing, Mendoza said the county awaits a decision on an MIH grant that would fund 21 homes across six communities; she noted that previously awarded housing projects delivered about 40 units in Carbondale and about 15 in Osage City. Mendoza estimated that once the currently proposed projects are complete—if built within two years at an average home value of $300,000—they would increase county real‑property tax revenue by about $426,000.
Mendoza also said the county has attracted roughly $13.1 million in competitive grant awards through 2024–2026 for parks, libraries, community centers and small‑business support. She said tourism promotion, including a “Drive 75” landing page with Coffee County and new billboards, and a slate of planned events are part of a strategy to grow visitor spending, which Mendoza estimated at about $12,000,000 annually.
The update closed with Mendoza inviting residents to contact her office with questions; commissioners thanked Mendoza for the report.
